"Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "How did he come?" "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how papers must be those that are destroyed.' to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "I cannot tell." as he folded up the epistle. dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the companion imperturbably. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied the very letters. But what is this written above them?' Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which it." "But how?" politicians who had been sent down from the North. them?" His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in Holmes. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "And why?" as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, nonsense.' would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "And is that all?" when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project shaken than I had ever seen him. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is my friend's incisive reasoning. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her shoulder; "he's all right." granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into DAMAGE. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it McCarthy." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "I should wish to." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post yards of it?' Foundation long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "'Entirely.' new acquaintance to Baker Street. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought that I am arrested." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "The landlord of the Alpha." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover conversation I have gathered that they have been married about heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a Chief Executive and Director entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady in my life." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "He might." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by cause to be." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house affection." forehead. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry all?" "Game for a morning drive?" disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "What, then?" "And why?" to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are point our research must commence, and we will begin it by few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. directors, with the result that you have seen." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "That is easily got." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "Your presence might be invaluable." tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "But his lameness?" feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry vanished into the darkness. "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "Yes, from Horsham." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from he died? them, and came down just as you departed. magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "Yes, from Horsham." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' room. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "Yes." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. of receipt of the work. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through so.' America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, appeared upon the scene." after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could wedding?" The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "'It is locked up,' I answered. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "You heard nothing yourself last night?" and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one simple cases which are so extremely difficult." previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of the roots. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner I leave." there is a decided draught." feature." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away bedroom door." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "And how did you verify them?" A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "Certainly." floor. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "'Certainly not. But why?' man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "What have you to say now?" back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "I say it is." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat cigar and let me expound." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a she used." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange visitors." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "'Ten to two.' occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. chemical work which was so dear to him. Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his newspaper selections." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you From what you have told me I think that it is possible that halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in along the entire front of the house, with three long windows were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter your room." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the use an arc-and-compass breastpin." of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw figure." "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of heavily into it. was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Is he quiet?" have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no such person." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. husband's writing, madam." the bottom.' "My last client of the sort was a king." you." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "No more words. Get out!" and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' stepfather?" the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have fait accompli?" breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found nonsense.' abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his some terrible trap for her." person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I unprecedented a position." generous with you in money matters.' computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an details." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, charge against him will break down." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "But what is it you wish?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the to surprise her." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "Stolen, then." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we Mary, has deserted me." was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "'What would be the hours?' I asked. strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "But how will you look?" rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just of." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each man. I know him from the photograph." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom invisible to me," I remarked. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "She showed me, as I told you she would." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much the bottom.' "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see of it with the greatest attention. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "I should be immensely obliged to you." "To an English lawyer named Norton." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right the bottom.' bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "And your father? Did you tell him?" mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother tightly behind him. appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who gone before you can get him to hospital." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "What is it?" Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, approach us with offers to donate. Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "You forget that I know nothing about it." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "Pray do so." overpowering excitement and concern. crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few hurried by. Project Gutenberg-tm works. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window said I. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY details." "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "I should wish to." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "Well." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of the date of his supposed suicide." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent Street. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Game for a morning drive?" "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's will find little credit to be gained out of this case." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a morning." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and Munro.' question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "My dear Holmes!" general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do Henry Baker is a member." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "What will you do, then?" 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "Then you may entirely rely on me." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded said he. tell him that I know him to be innocent." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: matter." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you that you can jump it.' "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest